Page "Trolley problem" Paragraph 5

A utilitarian view asserts that it is obligatory to steer to the track with one man on it.

According to simple utilitarianism, such a decision would be not only permissible, but, morally speaking, the better option ( the other option being no action at all ).

An alternate viewpoint is that since moral wrongs are already in place in the situation, moving to another track constitutes a participation in the moral wrong, making one partially responsible for the death when otherwise no one would be responsible.

An opponent of action may also point to the incommensurability of human lives.

Under some interpretations of moral obligation, simply being present in this situation and being able to influence its outcome constitutes an obligation to participate.

If this were the case, then deciding to do nothing would be considered an immoral act if one values five lives more than one.